The Dillon tribune., 1887-12-16
THE NATIONAL CONVENTIONS.

The preliminary move for opening the
Presidential campaign Of SIS has been
made by the Republicans in issuing the
first call for their National Convention and
fixing the place for holding it. The Dem
ocrats, following cautious custom pursu
cd BY the Democratic party for thirty years,
will soon call their National Convention
and fix the time and place Of its assembling.
The student Of politics has noted that It
has been the tactics of the Democrats for
three decades to await the action OF the
Republicans in taking the initial step in
opening a Presidential campaign, and
hence the National caucus Of the Demo
Gratis has been called together after the Ma.
tional Republican Convention has met,
built its political platform, nominated its
Presidential standard bearer ard adjourned.
The policy practiced by the Democrats has
enabled that party to take advantage Of the
glitterine generalities and weak planks in
the platform Of their opponents. and like.
wise to turn to party account the blunders
Of omission and commission perpetrated BY
the Republicans in making their nomina
tions Of National candidates. The Demo.
Gratis are now struggling among them.
selves as to when and where to hold their
National Convention. Some point in the
Solid South might be selected, but as the
Democratic party was once broken into
pieces BY holding its National Convention
down South, it is probable that some point
in the North will be named for holding
the Democratic National Convention Of
'SS, in order that Northern Democrats can
have It to say that it came to pass that
the loyal Democrats Of the North nomin.
a:cd the Democratic nominee. The selec.
ton Of Chicago as the place Of holding the
coming Convention Is somewhat peculiar.
Republican National Conventions have
been held in Chicago SO often that pious
why is that Chi:ago whisky has a more
patriotic and enthusiastic effect On the av.
erage Republican politician and statesman
than the whisky Of any other town on the
continent could possibly produce. This
reason, although It smacks slightly of
reference to poor whisky, will be accepted
in political circles as a powerful one, for
It Is conceded, and not questioned, that
the fluid alluded to Is mighty factor in
campaign, from the day Of opening until
the hour Of closing the polls. The call Of
the National Republican Committee for the
Convention at Chicago next June is a bet.
ter and purcr document than the one made
by the notorious Dorsey for the Republi.
can party few years ago. 1t reads better
and sounds simpler than the Dorsey docu
ment did. It provides that each State will
be entitled to four delegates at large, and
for each Representative at large two dele.
gates, and each Congressional district, each
Territory, and the District Of Columbia to
two delegates. The delegates at large are
to be chosen BY State Conventions called
in not less than twenty days by published
notice, and not less than thirty days before
the meeting of the National Convention.
Congressional district and Territorial dele.
gates shall be chosen in the same manner
as tho nomination Of member Of Congress
or Territorial Delegate is made. This will
give the Republicans Of Montana, both
wings, an opportunity to have a set to, a Il.
the Bozeman Convention, for a representa-.
lion in their National Convention. The
call further provides that an alternate shall
be elected in the same manner and at the
same time. In cases Of contest for seats
the same must be filed with the National
Committee in writing, accompanied by a
printed statement OF the grounds. which
are to be made public.